Telephone-call recorder.



D. J; McGAURAN. TELEPHONE CALL REQOEDERA APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1914.

a Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-$HEBT 1.

awe a HE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOfO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C.

D. J. MGGAURAN.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

PPLtGHtGd F6119, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. FHUTG-LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C,

FTQFQ 'TELEPHONE-CALL RECORDER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915..

Application filed May 21, 1914. Serial N 0. 839,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN JAMES MGGAURAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Brede street, Geraldton, in the State of Western Australia, Australia, accountant, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone- Call Recorders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephone call recorders of the. kind described in United States specification Serial No. 7 86220 wherein calls are automatically recorded and means are employed for penalizing a subscriber not answering an exchange call within a predetermined time, by automatically causing a call to be recorded against the subscriber when the call is answered after such time limit.

In this construction an automatic, electrically controlled timing mechanism is employed to throw the call recording mechanism out of action for a predetermined time when the exchange calls subscriber and the improvements comprising this invention consist of either mechanical or electrical means for arresting the mechanism of the timing train of gear when a subscriber has answered an exchange call within a prescribed time limit until the conversation is concluded and the hook switch lowered.

The invention is illustrated by diagrammatic drawings of which- Figure 1 illustrates the mechanical construction thereof and Fig. 2 a detail of conconstruction thereof. Fig. 3 illustrates the electrical means that may be substituted for the mechanical construction.

Referring to Fig. 1 a contact 34 made by a subscriber raising hook switch 2 when answering a call completes a circuit through battery 5 spring operated lever 28, frame F, and electromagnet S which operates the call recording mechanism S M as described in co-pending application United States Serial No. 786220. For the same object the recording mechanism may be mechanically operated by the movement of the hook switch as described in said application.

The lever 28 of the mechanism is attached to an armature and is operated toorelease the gear of a timing mechanism T for a predeterminedtimelimitby means of an electromagnet X energized when a contact is made through an electromagnet E in the calling circuit C when completed by exchange callmg a subscriber, the object of the timing mechan sm being to throw the recording mechanism out of action if subscriber answer a call within a prescribed time limit, and to subsequently restore the recording mechanism S M so that the raising of the hook switch 2 will cause the recording mechanism to record a call as described in the aforesaid application. The engaging arms 28*, 28 of the lever 28 are adapted to be lifted from notches 29 in the gear of the timing mechanism when said lever is operated by electromagnet X to set the train of gear in motion until such time as the end of the arms engageagain with the notches. According to the present improvements the contact 34 Fig. 1, closed by raising hook switch 2 completes the circuit of electromagnet S and causes lever 40 of the record mg mechanism to be held against the stop until the hook switch 2 is returned to normal and said contact 34 is opened.

Attached to the hook switch 2 is a lever constructed of hinged arms 51, 52 the latter being pivoted at 53 Fig. 2. The end of the arm 52 is adapted to normally bear against a spring bar or spring-pressed bar 54 pro vided with studs 55 and 56 adapted to engage, when exchange calls subscriber and the timing mechanism is released, respec tively with the vane 31 of the timing mechanism and with one of a series of notches 57 formed in a disk 58 attached to one of the gear wheels of said timing mechanism gear train and at a time just prior to the arms of lever 28 engaging the notches 29 so as to arrest said timing mechanism T. Upon subscriber completing conversation and hook switch 2 being lowered, bar 54 is pushed outwardly by the lever arms 51, 52, and the studs 55, 56, are removed from vane 31 and one of the notches 57 respectively so that timing mechanism is momentarily released until the arms of the lever 28 again engage with notches 29. By this mechanism if the subscriber answers the exchange call within the predetermined time limit no call is recorded against him but a call is recorded if subscriber lifts the switch hook after such time limit so that he is penalized for the delay.

The bar 54 may be automatically operated by electrical means as illustrated in Fig. 3 and for this purpose an electromagnet is employed and is adapted when energized to move a pivoted spring controlled lever 66 electromagn'et X through an exchange call and hook switch 2 is raised during the time limit, the following circuit being completed vizz-estop contact'68, wire 69, contact 34, battery 5, electromagnet .65 and lever 28.

The subsequent lowering of the hook switch 2;opens the circuitand deenergizes electromagnet so'that lever 66 springs back and engaging bar 54 removes the studs 55,'and 56 respectively from the vane 31 and notches 57 of the timing mechanism with the result above described in connection with the purely mechanical construction.

1. In-the telephone callrecorder the'combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and a timing mechanism adapted to be automatically set in motionfor a predetermined time when-the exchange. calls, of means for arresting said timing mechanism when a subscriber answers the call within such timelimit.

.2. Ina telephone call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and a'timing mechanism adapted to be automatically set in motion for a predetermined time when the exchange calls, of a spring controlled bar providedwith arrestingmeans adapted to engage with the gear of the timing mechanism when subscriber answers a call within such time limit. 7 3. In a telephone call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and an electrically controlled timing mechanism provided with a spring operated lever adapted to be automatically temporarily released to set the mechanism in motion for a predetermined time, when exchange calls, of a springcontrolled bar provided with arresting means adapted to engage with thegear of thetiming mechanism just prior'to the stopping movement of the said lever when subscriber answers a call within theprescribed time limit.

4.In a telephone, call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and a timing mechanism adapted to be automatically set in motion for a predetermined time when the exchange calls and provided with a vane and with a disk formed with a series of notches, of a spring controlled bar provided with studs and adapted tobe released to'engage respectively with said vane and one of said notches when thetelephone hook switch is raised by sub- Copiele of this patent may be obtained for 'scriber answering a call within the time limit.

5. In a telephone call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and a timing mechanism adapted to be automatically set in motion for a predetermined time when the exchange calls and provides with a vane and with a disk formed with a series of notches, a hinged lever on the telephone hook switch adapted normally to bear against a spring controlled bar provided with studs said bar being adapted to be released to permit its stud to engage respectively with said vane and notches when said hook switch is raised by subscriber answering a call within the prescribed time limit.

6. In a telephone call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and an electrically controlled timing mechanism provided with a spring controlled lever adapted to be automatically temporarily released to set said timin mechanism in motion, when exchange calls, for a predetermined time, of'a spring controlled bar provided with arresting means adapted to engage with the gear of the timing mechanism just prior to the stopping movement of the said lever when subscriber answers a call within the prescribed time limit by raising the hook switch, said bar being operated through an electromagnet by a contact in a circuit closed by the raising of said hook switch.

7. In a telephone call recorder the combination with an automatic call recording mechanism and an electrically controlled timing mechanism provided with a spring controlled lever adapted to be automatically temporarily released to set said timing mechanism in motion for a predetermined time, when exchange calls, of a spring controlled bar provided with arresting means adapted to engage with the gear of the timing mechanism just prior to the stopping movement of the said lever when subscriber answers a call within the prescribed time limit by raising the hook switch, a spring controlled lever in engagement with said bar and provided with an armature of an elcctromagnet energized by a contact in a circuit closed by the raising of said hook switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUNCAN JAMES McGAURAN.

Witnesses H. W'ILsoN, THOMAS WOOD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oflatcnts.

Washington, D. 0. 

